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submitted 2 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Summary

Proton Mail, known for its privacy-first email services, faced backlash after CEO Andy Yen praised the Republican Party and its antitrust stance.

The company initially posted and deleted a statement supporting Yen’s comments, later claiming an “internal miscommunication” and reiterating its political neutrality.

Critics question Proton’s impartiality, particularly as it cooperates with Swiss authorities on legal data requests.

Privacy advocates warn that political alignments could undermine trust, especially for Proton’s users—journalists and activists wary of government surveillance under administrations like Trump’s.

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Oh ffs, I just made the move to Proton with some stuff a few months ago. I'm really keen on switching the address out on a load of accounts.

[-] GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.world 12 points 22 hours ago

Maaaan, what the fuck?!?

[-] Mikina@programming.dev 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

What would be a good alternative? I refuse to support this. Thankfully, I have my own domain, so anything where I can use it would be great, and moving shouldn't be that hard. Bonus points if I can use wildcards, or at least have a few emails, like spam@mydomain and other.

Oh, and it has to support "+" emails, such as mail+whatever@mydomain.com

[-] needanke@feddit.org 2 points 12 hours ago

mailbox.org works great for me.

[-] loon@sh.itjust.works 20 points 1 day ago

Again privacy oriented companies that bend to demagogues and desperate profiteers cannot be trusted to handle sensitive data.

Switched from ProtonVPN to Mullvad and ProtonMail to Posteo. Wiped my ProtonDrive. I sleep pretty soundly at night.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

I mean, if they are praising the orange cock, then whats to make you believe they actually deleted the data like you said, and dont have a backup somewhere.

mullvads good though, cheap and no issues with it.

[-] loon@sh.itjust.works 1 points 17 hours ago

Exactly. It was a shit lesson to learn but now I've gone the way of encrypted local backups across multiple systems and no cloud bullshit.

[-] inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago

I cannot fathom being that stupid to believe that Republicans are anti-monoploy when they give huge corporation massive tax breaks and removes barriers for mega mergers

[-] pingveno@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Biden: puts Lina Kahn in charge of the FTC

Lina Kahn: Goes after monopoly behavior, non competes, etc

Trump: Promptly fires Lina Kahn, day one

Protonmail: Clearly Republicans are for the little guy!

[-] cykopidgeon@lemm.ee 4 points 16 hours ago

Seriously. Kahn was actually trying stuff. I don't know how anyone could look at Big Tech falling in line with Trump and think that they're going to be tough on anti-trust, anti-big business.

This is going to be 4yrs of looting and grifting.

[-] Red_October@lemmy.world 49 points 1 day ago

Yeah Proton already burned that bridge. "Politically Neutral" is no longer an option for them.

[-] Zink@programming.dev 20 points 1 day ago

When I first saw the headline, I thought it sounded like one of those stories about how many Nazis are at the table or at the bar.

When you exist in a 2-party system, and one of those parties are mask-off fascists, and people suspect you of supporting them, saying you’re neutral isn’t a good look.

[-] febra@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I just cancelled my subscription and moved everything to Tuta. Tuta also seems to have a political stance much more aligned with my own: diversity, privacy oriented, and eco friendly.

[-] JustARegularNerd@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

Yeah I'm very much now considering alternative options like Tuta now. Been a Proton user since 2020 and subscribed for over 2 years with them, and didn't have any intention of moving until now.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

And today I got an email saying they're donating a million dollars to support non-profits for privacy and freedom. Timing, timing, timing.

[-] sudneo@lemm.ee 4 points 17 hours ago

They do that every year. The 2024 was the 7th edition.

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Yep, they said so in the email. That's nice of them.

[-] JustTheWind@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago

Okay, I feel like the part that people are skipping over is the "cooperating with authorities on legal data requests" part. No. As a privacy company; You DO NOT save and store ANY information apart from what is crucially and imminently necessary to run your service. Anything beyond that is a blatant conflict of interests and should not be trusted. Corruption and data sharing that CAN happen, WILL happen when it comes to data security based companies. Full stop.

[-] Sniatch@feddit.org 28 points 1 day ago

I already switched from Proton Mail to Tuta. No regrets

[-] MadBigote@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

I've been with tutan for two years now. The service is ok, but they still have some limitations that bother me a bit. Before this issue with Trump, I'd have considered move to Proton, but I guess I'll stick with Tuta.

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[-] waywardninja@sh.itjust.works 43 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Curious how so many people decided to ditch them and switch (vocally on Lemmy at least) and now they back pedal/clarify/whatever. Turns out we have power and using it works. Sorry not sorry. Edited: pedal instead of petal.

[-] MadPsyentist@lemmy.nz 7 points 1 day ago

Im so sorry. I tried not to, but the pull was to strong. Ignore me please...

But...

The saying is "back pedal", not "back petal". "Back pedal" as in trying to pedal backwards on a bike. Not "back petal" as in trying to pick flowers at the back of a bush, maybe? Trying to not lie down on a bed of roses? Unsure.

[-] Leg@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago

Oof. Kinda awkward, but...

*too

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[-] waywardninja@sh.itjust.works 3 points 23 hours ago

I fixed that twice!
Fist Curse you autocorrect! Fist

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I think at this point in the USA it's very clear:

If you're "politically neutral", you're Republican.

I (and very many others) may not agree with the democrats, but since we only got two parties there, it's damage-control. And any sane person (that would like to have a non-dystopian future) votes against Trump...

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[-] sith@lemmy.zip 25 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I really don't understand why smart people put their eggs in the proton basket.

Big (shady) money rule Switzerland. A Swiss server or company isn't safer or more trustworthy. Quite the opposite.

[-] rumba@lemmy.zip 33 points 1 day ago

Excluding Switzerland from the equation, most in the US don't have + or - for Switzerland unless it's banking.

You can never trust any company to put your needs first. A good moral company has at least its founders, private funders, employees, and vendors to look after before they worry about your wants and needs.

Proton was kinda small. 500 employees for a communications company isn't bad.

Good start.

Proton made a name for itself. WE ARE PRIVACY FIRST and they mostly delivered on that in technical capabilities.

So far, so good.

Then they doxed someone's IP (french?) due to a remote government order.

Not great, but anyone would do that. There have to be limits. That said, they now clearly play ball with governments.

All the other providers would do the same. They're now on par with most, but less likely to sell all my data down the river. But my needs are to keep my secrets state secret level. (or so I think)

Then he crawls up Trumps ass.

Now, I'm doing nothing illegal. Nothing immoral. Nothing questionable by the previous administrations standards, but what happens If I start to protest? If I subscribe to democratic news sources, is this jackass going to train an AI on my and hand my name address and phone number to the neo facists running my country now?

We put our eggs wherever we think they can best be served conveniently and for the best price.

You can also choose to not put your eggs anywhere. You can secure your email but not sending any.

we were trying to choose price+convenience+security.

knock one of those legs out, it's not a table anymore.

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this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2025
997 points (100.0% liked)

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